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| David Cameron: UK to accept 'thousands' more Syrian refugees | David Cameron: UK to accept 'thousands' more Syrian refugees |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK is to provide resettlement to "thousands" more Syrian refugees in response to the worsening humanitarian crisis, David Cameron has announced. | The UK is to provide resettlement to "thousands" more Syrian refugees in response to the worsening humanitarian crisis, David Cameron has announced. |
| He said the extra refugees would come from UN camps bordering Syria, and not from among people already in Europe. | He said the extra refugees would come from UN camps bordering Syria, and not from among people already in Europe. |
| Britain would act with its "head and heart", he said, as he pledged to find long-term solutions to the crisis. | Britain would act with its "head and heart", he said, as he pledged to find long-term solutions to the crisis. |
| No specific figure has been given but the UN refugee agency said the UK would take a further 4,000 Syrian refugees. | |
| Earlier this week, the prime minister said accepting more people was not the simple answer to the situation, described by some as the worst humanitarian crisis since World War Two. | |
| But speaking in Lisbon after talks with his Portuguese counterpart, Mr Cameron said the UK had a "moral responsibility" to help those displaced by the four-year conflict in Syria, adding that more details would be set out next week following discussions with organisations working in the region. | |
| 'Deeply moved' | 'Deeply moved' |
| Calls for the UK to take in more refugees have intensified after the publication of a picture of the body of a drowned three-year-old Syrian boy, Alan Kurdi, washed up a Turkish beach. | Calls for the UK to take in more refugees have intensified after the publication of a picture of the body of a drowned three-year-old Syrian boy, Alan Kurdi, washed up a Turkish beach. |
| Speaking to the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, the boy's aunt, Tima Kurdi, said his and his brother's death should be "a wake-up call for the whole world". | Speaking to the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, the boy's aunt, Tima Kurdi, said his and his brother's death should be "a wake-up call for the whole world". |
| Mr Cameron has previously argued that the solution was not to take in more people but the government's approach to the crisis came under pressure from public and political figures, including: | Mr Cameron has previously argued that the solution was not to take in more people but the government's approach to the crisis came under pressure from public and political figures, including: |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By deputy political editor James Landale | By deputy political editor James Landale |
| The prime minister isn't changing his argument. | The prime minister isn't changing his argument. |
| He still thinks opening up Europe's borders and agreeing quotas will not solve the refugee crisis. In fact, he thinks it would make it worse by increasing pull factors and encouraging people traffickers. | He still thinks opening up Europe's borders and agreeing quotas will not solve the refugee crisis. In fact, he thinks it would make it worse by increasing pull factors and encouraging people traffickers. |
| But, as the crisis gets worse and the public and political pressure grows, the prime minister does now accept that Britain has a moral duty to do more. | But, as the crisis gets worse and the public and political pressure grows, the prime minister does now accept that Britain has a moral duty to do more. |
| While on a visit to Portugal and Spain to discuss his planned EU reforms, Mr Cameron is expected to say that he is looking at extending existing British and UN schemes that have so far brought a few hundred of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees to the UK. | While on a visit to Portugal and Spain to discuss his planned EU reforms, Mr Cameron is expected to say that he is looking at extending existing British and UN schemes that have so far brought a few hundred of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees to the UK. |
| No targets have been agreed and none is likely to be set today - although Mr Cameron has talked of taking thousands more - but he is unlikely to satisfy his many critics who want Britain to take in tens of thousands of refugees and who have been outraged by his reluctance to act. | No targets have been agreed and none is likely to be set today - although Mr Cameron has talked of taking thousands more - but he is unlikely to satisfy his many critics who want Britain to take in tens of thousands of refugees and who have been outraged by his reluctance to act. |
| Almost 5,000 Syrians have been granted asylum in the last four years and the UK has accepted 216 Syrian refugees under a scheme to relocate the most vulnerable begun in January 2014. | Almost 5,000 Syrians have been granted asylum in the last four years and the UK has accepted 216 Syrian refugees under a scheme to relocate the most vulnerable begun in January 2014. |
| Addressing reporters in Lisbon, Mr Cameron said the £900m in British aid given to Syria, including food, aid and medical supplies, had stopped greater numbers from trying to reach Europe but said the UK would now go further in extending sanctuary to more refugees. | Addressing reporters in Lisbon, Mr Cameron said the £900m in British aid given to Syria, including food, aid and medical supplies, had stopped greater numbers from trying to reach Europe but said the UK would now go further in extending sanctuary to more refugees. |
| "Given the scale of the crisis and the suffering of the people, today I can announce that we will do more - providing resettlement for thousands more Syrian refugees. | "Given the scale of the crisis and the suffering of the people, today I can announce that we will do more - providing resettlement for thousands more Syrian refugees. |
| "We will continue with our approach of taking them from refugee camps. This provides them with a more direct and safe route to the United Kingdom rather than risking the hazardous journey which has tragically cost so many of their lives," he said. | "We will continue with our approach of taking them from refugee camps. This provides them with a more direct and safe route to the United Kingdom rather than risking the hazardous journey which has tragically cost so many of their lives," he said. |
| The PM added: "Britain will act with our head and our heart, providing refugee for those in need while working on long-term solutions to this crisis." | The PM added: "Britain will act with our head and our heart, providing refugee for those in need while working on long-term solutions to this crisis." |
| Meanwhile, a stand-off between police and migrants on a train in Hungary is continuing into a second day. | Meanwhile, a stand-off between police and migrants on a train in Hungary is continuing into a second day. |
| On Thursday, police let the migrants board the train in Budapest but then tried to force them off at a refugee camp to the west of the capital. | On Thursday, police let the migrants board the train in Budapest but then tried to force them off at a refugee camp to the west of the capital. |
| Among those to add his voice to calls for the UK to do more is former Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who told BBC Newsnight that the UK needed to make "a very clear and conspicuous humanitarian gesture". "I think 10,000 is a figure that we could handle," he said. | Among those to add his voice to calls for the UK to do more is former Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who told BBC Newsnight that the UK needed to make "a very clear and conspicuous humanitarian gesture". "I think 10,000 is a figure that we could handle," he said. |
| Development charity Oxfam welcomed indications of a shift in UK government policy. | Development charity Oxfam welcomed indications of a shift in UK government policy. |
| Chief executive Mark Goldring said: "Offering to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees would bring the UK in line with other European countries who have already shown leadership in offering a haven to vulnerable refugees." | Chief executive Mark Goldring said: "Offering to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees would bring the UK in line with other European countries who have already shown leadership in offering a haven to vulnerable refugees." |
| But UKIP leader Nigel Farage warned the European Union was sending a message that anybody who wants to can come to Europe which, he said, would compound the crisis. | But UKIP leader Nigel Farage warned the European Union was sending a message that anybody who wants to can come to Europe which, he said, would compound the crisis. |
| "If we want to stop images like that picture of that three-year-old boy being taken out of the sea then we have to stop the boats from coming. That is absolutely vital," he told LBC radio. | "If we want to stop images like that picture of that three-year-old boy being taken out of the sea then we have to stop the boats from coming. That is absolutely vital," he told LBC radio. |
| What is your reaction to this? Are you a migrant already in the UK? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story. | What is your reaction to this? Are you a migrant already in the UK? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |